Frogs and Toads of the World »

Did you know there were about 3500 species of frog and toad? That they live everywhere from swamps and rivers to deserts and mountains—not to mention rain forests? And that their dependence on two distinct environments at different stages of their lives makes them doubly fascinating? What features separate frogs from toads? Why is classification so difficult? It's equally hard to pinpoint their origins and evolution—almost every expert has come to a different conclusion. You'll find discussions of the most current theories, as well as information on these amphibians' size, shape, and color; their anatomical and physiological structures; and their mating calls. Photos, many in dazzling color, show frogs and toads burrowing in the sand, wrapped around tree branches, walking on bright green leaves, and camouflaging themselves. You'll see an albino, a bright red-and-black-striped poison dart frog, close-up shots of frogs' skin, and several shots of frogs developing from eggs to hatchlings to tadpoles. 192 pages (70 in color), 50 b/w illus., 6 X 9 1/4.